Thousands Mark May Day in Turkey

Thousands of people have marked May 1 International Workers’ Day in Turkey, with police detaining dozens of protesters during the events.

The official demonstrations in Istanbul were held in the Bakırköy district after the authorities banned celebrations from being held in Taksim Square.

The police presence was heavy across the city, with helicopters buzzing overhead.

Representatives of political parties and labor unions attended the gathering in Bakırköy, including the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK), the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB), as well as the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Strict security measures were taken during the event and control points were set on the roads leading to the area. The police searched the demonstrators as well as the banners they carried.

The groups gathered in several points around Bakırköy and marched to the area while carrying banners reading slogans in support of workers’ rights.

Three people were detained near the area after opening a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) flag.

A brawl also erupted between the police and a group at the entrance of the area after members of the latter refused to undergo a search. The police determined that the group was carrying banners of illegal organizations and detained some in the group, as others tried to knock down the police barricades. Police then opened fire into the air to disperse the crowd.

DİSK head Kani Beko, KESK head Lami Özgen, TMMOB head Emin Koramaz and TTB head Prof. Raşit Türkel entered the meeting area together.